Title:Contamination by Listeria monocytogenes in Latin American Meat
Products and its Consequences
Volume: 18
Issue: 9
Author(s): Natana Gengnagel and Alberto Gonçalves Evangelista*
Affiliation:
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do
Paraná, R. Imac. Conceição, 1155 - Prado Velho, Curitiba - PR, 80215-901, Brazil
Keywords:
Latin America, antimicrobial resistance, bioprotection, intelligent packaging, meat safety, listeriosis.
Abstract:
Background: Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most important bacteria in food
technology, causing listeriosis, a disease with high mortality rates, especially in developing countries.
Objective: Thus, the objective of this review was to gather recent work on the presence of L.
monocytogenes in meat and meat products in Latin America, in addition to pointing out control
methods and resistance genes that can be disseminated.
Methods: Original research articles in Portuguese, Spanish and English published since 2017
were selected, reporting the presence of L. monocytogenes in meat and meat products in Latin
American countries. Articles were also reviewed on innovative methods for controlling the bacteria
in food, such as intelligent packaging and the use of essential oils, and on resistance genes
found in L. monocytogenes, pointing out the possible implications of this occurrence.
Results: Some negligence was observed in determining the prevalence of this bacterium in several
countries in Latin America. Although studies on L. monocytogenes have been found in milk
and dairy products, demonstrating the existence of the necessary structure and knowledge for research
development, studies on meat and meat products have not been found in most countries.
In control methods developed against L. monocytogenes, the versatility of the approaches used
stands out, enabling their use in different types of meat products, according to their technological
characteristics.
Conclusion: Several resistance genes have been determined to be possibly disseminated by L.
monocytogenes, which adds more importance to the establishment of methods for its control.
